Countryside
Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.
Stay in a cottage built by an amazing Victorian inventor
Experience Cragside in Northumberland as many have never seen it before – by staying in the spectacular and dramatic grounds of the Cragside Estate.
Location: Rothbury, Northumberland
Dig for buried treasure at Roman Vindolanda
See live archaeological excavations before your eyes at the ancient fort of Vindolanda.
Location: Vindolanda, Northumberland
Discover a secluded fortified manor house at Aydon Castle
Over 900 years old and pretty much unaltered since then, Aydon Castle sits proudly upon its crag; a true survivor of some rough times and visitors.
Location: Corbridge, Northumberland
Camp next to Hadrian's Wall
This isn't just any wall, this is an impressive piece of roman architecture.
Location: Melkridge, Cumbria
Experience David Hockney’s inspiring landscapes
Widely considered Britain’s most important living artist, David Hockney has long been fascinated by the nature and landscapes of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Location: East Yorkshire
Go seal and puffin spotting on the Farne Islands
Visit Farne Islands to see thousands of seabirds and a huge Grey seal colony.
Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland
Enjoy the ultimate free flying experience over North York Moors
If you’ve got a head for heights and the being ratcheted up to a thousand feet fills you with excitement, a gliding lesson might be just the ticket.
Location: Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Bathe in autumn colours close to the Falling Foss waterfall
If ever there was a magical woodland walk, it’s the two-mile circular trail through the trees from May Beck to the charming Falling Foss waterfall, all within Little Beck Wood Nature Reserve.
Location: North York Moors, near Whitby, North Yorkshire
Enjoy a weekend break in picturesque Helmsley
For a National Park town known historically for its castle and market, Helmsley these days is more about makeovers, macchiatos and boutique beds.
Location: Helmsley, North Yorkshire
A luxury stay that’s a Wold away from the everyday
Leave it all behind in a quirky, cosy Shepherd Hut hideaway. Enjoy long country walks and relax together in a hot tub under the stars.
Location: Bishop Wilton, East Yorkshire
Peep into Durham’s locomotive past
Discover Durham’s role in the development of the railways at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon.
Location: Vale of Durham
Discover a romantic paradise in the Peaks and Pennines
From long walks to lazy lunches, the Fleece Inn at Holme is the perfect base for your romantic break in the Yorkshire countryside.
Location: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Treat yourself to the ultimate spa break in the Pennines
Stay in deluxe serviced apartments and treat yourself from head to toe with heat, ice and mud experiences at Titanic Spa.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
Uncover gourmet delights with wild foraging
Learn how to find, identify and prepare the wild plants and produce that Northumberland has to offer with a foraging workshop or walk.
Location: Alnwick, Northumberland
Go wild camping in the Northumberland Countryside
Be close to nature as you enjoy an overnight camping experience with the experts at Badger and the Bear Outdoor Adventure Camp.
Location: Amble, Northumberland
Immerse yourself in the magic of The Alnwick Garden
Let the little ones run free around the 12 acres of gardens at the multi award-winning Alnwick Gardens in Northumberland.
Location: Alnwick, Northumberland
Journey underground at Castleton's Caves
Go underground and visit any of Castleton’s four spectacular show caves to experience the Peak District’s hidden underworld secrets.
Location: Castleton, Derbyshire
